Apparatus for the treatment of rheumatic and arthritis conditions



Sept; 27, 1938. Q WOQDRUFF 2,131,360

APPARATUS FOR THE TREATMENT OF RHEUMATIC AND ARTHRITIS CONDITIONS FiledSept. 25. 1935 4! fly w INVENTOR.

BY M )M ATTORNEY.-

Patented Sept. 27, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR THETREATMENT OF RHEUMATIC AND ARTHRITIS CONDI- TIONS Application SeptemberClaims.

This invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the treatment ofrheumatic and arthritis conditions, being specifically directed to anelectro-therapeutic couch of novel construc- 5 tion and function. I

Broadly, it is on object of this invention to provide a treatmentmechanism in the form of a couch or the like, incorporating a pluralityof treatment electrodes displaceable to varying positions thereon andtherealong, whereby to permit direct application of electrical effectsinvolving direct or modified direct current in the nature of a pulsatingcurrent, to various parts of the body of a patient.

Still further, it is an object of this invention to provide anelectro-therapeutic treatment couch to which direct or pulsating currentis supplied, wherein a series of displaceable cushions, some in the formof conducting units and others insulating units, are interchangeablydisposed so-as to provide distribution of current for electrotherapeuticeffects through the conducting units to varying regions of the body of apatient, through a circuit formed therethrough.

These and other advantages, capabilities and features of the inventionwill appear from the subjoined detailed description of one specificembodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in whichcouch.

Figure 2 is a front elevation taken along lines 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detailed front elevation in section taken along lines 33of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an end elevation in section taken along lines 44 of Figure1.

Referring to the reference characters in the drawing, B representsatreatment couch comprising a frame, the top of which carries a pluralityof conductor plates 40a and 40b, each having considerable surface areaand spaced from one another, the same having leads 4| directed toswitches 42a and 42b, each of which forms a terminal adapted forconnection to conductors leading from a source of direct or pulsatingcurrent, each of said switches having plus or minus poles, as indicated,so as to permit the reversing of polarity of the electrical circuitestablished.

Upon the top of the frame of the couch and above the spaced conductingplates 40a and 40b carried thereon, there are adapted to be disposed aseries of movable cushions, those designated at 43 being formed ofinsulating material and extending across the frame, those designated atFigure 1 is a perspective view of the treatment 25, 1935, Serial No.41,981

44 likewise formed of insulating material, being smaller in length andthose designated as 45 andincorporating conductors to form treatmentcushions or electrodes, the treatment cushions or electrodes 45 beinginterposed between cushions 44 and adjacent cushions 43 as indicated inFigure 1, so as to provide a complete cushion support for the body ofthe patient on the couch.

As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4, the treatment cushions or electrodes 45comprise an interior of dry cotton 46, surrounded by alayer of gauze 41and enclosed within a substantially rectangular tube of tinfoil 48, thecross-section of' the same being equal to that of cushions 43 and 44, soas to permit replacement of such treatment cushions or electrodes forthe insulating cushions along the length of the couch.

A layer of felt in moistened form is disposed on each of the treatmentcushions or electrodes 45 when the apparatus is adapted to be used, andsuch treatment cushions or electrodes are positioned along the couch topand respectively'on conductor plates, there being disposed therebetweeninsulating cushions, so that the flow of Y electricity, either direct orpulsating current, from the source through the conductor plates and thetreatment cushions, passes through the body of the patient, closing thecircuit.

As shown in the drawing, the conductor plates 40a and 4% are ofrelatively large size or surface area as to permit the disposition ofthe treatment cushions or electrodes 45 which rest thereagainst forelectrical contact in several positions along their length and thecouch, the remaining insulating cushions 43 and 44 being readilydisplaceable to provide for the varying regions of local application ofthe therapeutic effect to the body of the patient through the aforesaidment electrodes.

As shown in Figure 1, there are provided additional hand treatmentelectrodes 50, two in number, the same comprising insulated rods 5|connected by leads 52 to terminals 53, the latter being controlled byswitches 54a and 54b, having plus and minus poles, such electrodes beingapplicable independently of or in conjunction with the treatmentelectrodes 45 as desired.

In operation, the couch is assembled so as to provide the disposition ofthe treatment electrodes or cushions atany desired location on the couchso long as such electrodes rest upon the conductor plates 40a. and 40?),all of the cushions, both the insulating cushions 43 and 44 and thetreatment cushions or electrodes 45 as aforesaid, being displaceable andinterchangeable so as to treatprovide a proper reclining surface for thepatient, While at the same time providing for the distribution of thetherapeutic effect through the treatment cushions at varying locationsalong the couch.

The treatment current as aforesaid, which may be in the form of a directcurrent or pulsating current from a source leading to the switches ofthe couch, passes through the couch as follows:'---- through switch 42a,lead ll to conductorplates- 480,, through the treatment cushion or;electrode resting along the length of conductor plate 40a to the body ofthe patient at the section thereof resting on such treatment cushionor'electrode,' through the body to that section resting on and Vcontacting with the treatment cushion or electrode disposed along thesurface of conductor plate 42b, through lead 4 therefrom to switch 521),thence returning to the current source.

It is obvious that various changes andmodi fioations may be made to thedetails of construction without departing from the general spirit of theinvention as set forth in the appended claims. a 1

I claim: 1

1. An electrotherapeutic couch comprising a plurality of contactterminals in the form of enlarged flat surfaces, leads directing? apulsating direct current to said contact terminals, and conductor padsadjustably displaceable along said contact surfaces, whereby to, providedifferent regions of application of pulsating current to the body of apatient. 1 w

2. In an electrotherapeutic treatment couch, conductor plates connectedto a source of pulsating direct current, treatment electrodesv in theform of cushions displaceable along'said conductor plates, whereby toprovide contact with different portions of a patients body, as desiredand non-conducting'cushions disposed on said couch in the remainingunconnected portions thereof.

3. In an electrotherapeutic treatment couch, conductor plates connectedto a source of pulsating direct current, treatment electrodes in theform of cushions displaceable along said conductor plates, whereby toprovide contact with difierentportions of a patients body, as desiredand non-conducting cushions disposed on said couch in the remainingunconnected portions thereof, and hand electrodes associated with saidcouch and connected to the source of pulsating direct current fordelivering pulsating effects,

of said strips being electrically insulating, said conducting stripsbeing displaceable on said couch and said insulating strips beingdisplaceable to fill in the spaces between said conducting strips, andterminal connections respectively connected to said conducting areas forapplying electrical energy thereto in desired manner.

5. Anelectrotherapeutic couch comprising a plurality of cushions formedas longitudinal electrically insulating cushion strips positionedsubstantially parallel and in juxtaposition, certain of said stripsbeing provided with spaces from which a portion of their respectivelengths is removed, said strips being displaceable, a plurality ofelectrically conducting strip electrodes respectively positioned in saidspaces in said cushion strips, and terminal connections respectivelyconnected to said conducting areas for applying electrical energythereto in desired manner.

BYRON o. WOODRUFFs

